Reusable pouch for the collection, containment, and transport of solid pet waste.

ABSTRACT

The device is a reusable pouch for solid pet waste collection, containment, and transport that is pulled over the user&#39;s hand when being used. The impermeable pouch protects the user&#39;s skin and clothing during waste collection and can be sanitized after use; non-stick properties further improve ease of cleaning. This reusable pouch allows for solid waste to be securely contained and transported for disposal in desired locations, such as flushed down household toilets, composted, or other methods.

1. TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to a reusable device for solid pet wastecollection, containment, and transport that eliminates the use ofdisposable items such as bags, cartridges, or containers.

2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

To better appreciate the intended contribution of the device claimed, weexplore some of the current state of the art, as well as the context oftheir uses. Responsible pet owners collect solid waste left behind bytheir pets, an act that is required by law in Canada and most developedcountries in the world. Given the widespread practice of pet ownership,a staggering quantity of solid pet waste needs to be collected andproperly discarded on a daily basis. While much more hygienic andsocially/civically responsible than the alternative of not collectingpet waste, a large portion of responsible pet owners use disposableproducts to aid in their waste collection process. These products andthe pet waste they have collected are usually discarded in wastereceptacles along with other non-recyclable, non-compostable refuse;ultimately ending up in landfills to the detriment of our environment.This detriment is unnecessary and avoidable, since solid pet waste canbe easily flushed down household toilets or composted, resulting insignificantly less environmental impact. Thus, the challenge at hand,which this device seeks to address, is the convenient collection,containment, and transport of solid pet waste from the point of originto the desired deposition destination.

Unfortunately, prior art in pet waste management have predominantlyrevolved around disposable items in various ways, often in conjunctionwith various apparatuses designed to position, carry, or contain suchdisposable items (e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,470,440; 10,667,492;10,787,778; 10,757,918). To a lesser degree, some prior art haveexplored eliminating disposable components from the pet waste managementspace. However, many of them may be deemed impractical, difficult toutilize in their prescribed fashion, or downright nonportable, makingtheir application impractical during regular excursions with pets (e.g.,U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,002,319; 9,102,465; 3,796,188).

For the above reasons, the device being claimed—a reusable pouch—can bea practical alternative that both reduces the amount of disposables inthe pet waste solutions space, and eliminates the unpleasant logisticssurrounding the temporary storage of waste-filled containers inhousehold and public refuse receptacles, which in turn requireadditional effort to remove when filled.

3. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the device generally comprises a durable and reusablepouch used for solid pet waste collection, containment, and transport.Said pouch can be worn on the user's hand during collection, and theninverted to securely contain the collected waste until the wastecontents can be disposed of in desired ways; after which the device canbe cleaned and reused.

4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is hereby described with reference to accompanyingdiagrams. The description and accompanying diagrams should make apparenthow one variation of the invention may be embodied in practice, and areintended for representative purposes. The description and accompanyingdiagrams should not be considered to be restrictive or limiting in anyrespect.

FIG. 1 is a frontal view of an embodiment of the device in its defaultand unused state.

FIG. 2 is a frontal view of an embodiment of the device about to beused, showing the device in relation to the user's hand and the solidwaste to be collected.

FIGS. 3a & 3 b are cross-sectional frontal views of an embodiment of thedevice during active waste collection.

FIG. 4 is a frontal view of an embodiment of the device after wastecollection, with contents securely contained for transport.

FIGS. 5a & 5 b are cross-sectional frontal views of an embodiment of thedevice being everted to dispose of its contents.

5. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With detailed reference to the drawings and their labelled components,particularly FIG. 1 through FIG. 5b , the device and its designed usescan be more clearly described and understood.

In FIG. 1, the device is in its default state. A depicts the open end ofthe pouch, and B depicts the closed pouch bottom. C depicts across-sectional view of the thin, flexible material that is impermeableand non-stick, properties which shield the user's skin and clothing andallow the user sufficient dexterity to grasp and collect solid waste. Inthe present configuration, the user-interface surface is oriented on theinterior of the pouch, while the waste-contact surface is oriented onthe exterior.

In FIG. 2, the device is about to be used. Arrow D indicates thedirection of movement of the user's hand into the pouch. Arrow Eindicates the direction of movement of the pouch—which encloses theuser's hand, wrist, and forearm—toward the solid waste being collected,which is depicted by F.

In FIGS. 3a & 3 b, the device is actively being used to collect solidwaste. In FIG. 3a , arrow G depicts the direction in which the solidwaste F is grasped into the waste-contact surface of the pouch by theuser's hand operating inside the pouch. Arrows H depict the direction inwhich the user's fingers grasp the solid waste while shielded by thepouch. Arrows J depict the direction in which the pouch is peeled off,inverted, and removed from the user's hand once the solid waste issecurely grasped. In FIG. 3b , the user has peeled off the pouch, suchthat the waste is contained within the pouch; the waste-contact surface,formerly oriented on the exterior of the pouch in FIGS. 1 & 2, is noworiented on the interior of the pouch. Symbol “I” is intentionallyomitted to avoid ambiguity.

In FIG. 4, the device is actively being used to contain and transportsolid waste F. K depicts the opening of the pouch in a closedconfiguration, held securely by a strap and fastener mechanism depictedby L. M depicts an additional fastener or attachment device which allowsthe pouch to be attached to a dog's leash handle, the user's belt loop,or other objects.

FIGS. 5a & 5 b depict the device being everted to dispose of its wastecontents once the strap and fastener mechanism (L from FIG. 4) has beenundone. In FIG. 5a , arrows N depict the direction in which the openingof the pouch is peeled back to expose the waste-contact surface of thepouch. Arrow O depicts the direction in which the user's hand pushes toaid in the eversion of the pouch for the disposal of its waste contents.In FIG. 5b , the user orients the exposed waste-contact surface of thepouch downward to release the solid waste F into a receptacle of choicewith the help of gravity, depicted by arrow P.

1. A reusable pouch for the collection, containment, and transport ofsolid pet waste; said pouch is thin, durable, and flexible withimpermeable and non-stick surfaces. The pouch is worn over the hand,wrist, and forearm of the user, shielding the user from the solid wastewhile allowing the user sufficient dexterity to manually grasp the solidwaste during waste collection. Once the waste is securely grasped, thepouch may be removed by inverting such that the collected waste isretracted into the pouch. The waste can be securely contained andtransported in said pouch to the desired location for disposal, such asflushed down household toilets, composted, or other methods. After use,the pouch may be everted to expose the waste-contact surface, which canbe sanitized; the material's non-stick properties further improve easeof cleaning.
 2. The reusable pouch of claim 1, wherein the pouch bodyincludes features such as creases, folds, and ridges or otherprotrusions and prominences to improve its functions, such as enhancingease of eversion, user dexterity, waste containment capabilities, andodor sealing capabilities.
 3. The reusable pouch of claims 1 to 2,wherein the waste contact surface of said pouch may be further treatedto increase non-stick, impermeable, and antibacterial properties tofurther enhance hygiene and ease of cleaning.
 4. The reusable pouch ofclaims 1 to 3, wherein said pouch includes one or more drawstringchannels and drawstrings, clasps, straps, or other fasteners, singularlyor in combination. These features close and secure the opening of thepouch so as to securely contain waste contents within the pouch, as wellas allow said pouch to be collapsed and stored, or to be fastened onto aleash handle, belt loop, or other object.